Art Supply Recipes you can make at home

Many early childhood specialist believe art is essential to young children's development. It encourages children to express themselves as unique individuals. Promoting art allows children to think creatively, which in turn increases problem solving. Art provides a neutral foundation for breaking language barriers, racial stereotypes, and other prejudices. It also encourages hand eye coordination and a vivid imagination. Children learn through the process of the art experience, not the finished product. As parents and caregivers remember to focus more on providing open ended art experiences that allow children to create what they vision. Purple ponies, blue grass, and pink skies all are expressions of your child's developing imagination. It's never too early to begin art experiences. Very young children learn through their senses, art is the perfect way to assist this. Here are a few art supplies recipes that you can make at home to use with your child.

Glue Recipe

What you'll need:
* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 2 cups hot water
* 1 cup cold water
* 1 tbsp alum
* 1/2 cup sugar
*Mixing bowl
* Sauce pan
* Large spoon

Procedure: Combine flour & sugar into mixing bowl. Slowly add cold water and stir as you pour. After ingredients are mixed well, transfer to sauce pan. heat on medium and add the two cups hot water. Stir mixture until it stiffens. Remove from stove top and add alum.

Tips: You may use promptly or place in an airtight container. This will conserve the glue for weeks. If the glue becomes hard, simply add a small amount of hot water.
Try adding food coloring for colored glue, or glitter for sparkles.

Crayon Recipe

What you'll need:
* 7/8 cups of Ivory Snow (powdered detergent)
*1/8 cups of water
* Food Coloring
* Mixing Bowl
* Candy Molds or Ice tray

Procedure: Mix water and food coloring to get desired color. Add mixture to soap powder and stir well. Press mixture into candy molds (or ice tray). Let crayons set for 1-2 days before removing and using. Repeat directions for different colored crayons.

Recycle Crayon Recipe

What you'll need:
*Old broken crayons (with paper removed)
*Muffin Tin or Candy Molds
*Muffin/Cupcake Liner

Procedure: Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place muffin liners in muffin pan. Add similar colored broken crayons in muffin liners or candy molds. Place in oven until crayons melt. Remove from oven and allow to cool for several hours. Remove muffin liner or mold.

Tips: If muffin liner is stuck on the crayon place in freezer for a few moments and once frozen the crayon will remove easily.
For Rainbow crayons mix a variety of colored broken crayons in muffin pan.
Candy molds create unique fun shaped crayons.

Finger Paint Recipe (requires cooking)

What you'll need:
* 1/2 cup cornstarch
*2 cups cold water
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 3 tbsp. sugar
* Food Coloring
* Sauce pan
* Plastic cups or storage containers

Procedure:
Combine all ingredients into sauce pan. Heat on low for 10-15 minutes, stir consistently. Stir until paint is thickened and smooth. Remove from stove top and cool. Once cooled, pour into paper cups or storage containers (amount of cups or containers used will depend on number of colors desired). Add drops of food coloring to each container creating the desired color. Cover mixture tightly when storing.

Finger paint Recipe (No cooking, can make with children)

What you'll need:
*2 cups flour
*2 cups cold water
* Large Mixing Bowl
*plastic cups
*Food Coloring

Procedure:
Pour water into large mixing bowl. Slowly add flour as you (or your child ) stirs. Mix well. Pour into plastic cups (amount of cups will depend on how many colors you want to create). Add drops of food coloring to each cup to create the desired color. Cover mixture when storing.

Pudding finger paint ( Perfect for younger children)

What you'll need:
*2 packs Instant Vanilla Pudding (follow directions for preparation on package)
*Food Coloring
*Plastic cups

Procedure: Divide putting in plastic cups (the amount of cups will depend on how many colors are desired). Add drops of food coloring to each cup until the desired color is reached. Have fun!

Tips: You can purchase vanilla snack pudding already prepared. Add a few drops of food coloring to them and your ready to paint!
Remember to refrigerate pudding if storing.

Playdough Recipe

What you'll need:
*2 cups flour
*2 cups warm water
*1 cup salt
*2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
*1 Tablespoon cream of tartar (optional)
*Food coloring or pack of unsweetened kool-aid
*Saucepan

Procedure: Combine ingredients in sauce pan and stir on low. Allow playdough to thicken (mash potato consistency). Once the dough begins to pull away from sides of sauce pan and gathers in the center, remove from heat and cool.

Tips: If your dough seems to sticky, allow to cook longer.
Adding koolaid packs created scented playdough.


Peanut Butter Playdough (Edible)

What you'll need:
*1/2 cup powdered milk
*1/2 cup peanut butter
*1/3 cup honey
*Mixing bowl

Procedure:
In large mixing bowl combine ingredients. Stir with fork until mixed well. You may need the dough with your hands after it is mixed well. If need add more powdered milk until desired consistency.

Tips: If creating for children be sure to check for allergies!

Temper Tantrums:Stop Them in Their Tracks

We've all been there. You're out shopping with your toddler who seems to want everything within arm's reach. You lightly mutter the words "not this time honey" and within seconds you have a whirl wind going on in your shopping cart. Passer byes are giving you the eye (you want to give them the finger), and your toddler is screaming, falling to the floor, with body parts flailing everywhere! Here are a few simple solutions to stop temper tantrums in their tracks!


Be Consistent: Consistency is an essential key to modifying meltdowns. Set a daily routine for your child and try hard not to stray. Even a few moments off schedule can be enough to cause your child to go haywire. Consistency also means never giving in to tantrums. Children tend to remember the one time you did give versus the 12 times you didn't. Be sure your yes means yes and your no means no.

Be Private: When your child is in an uproar immediately guide him/her to a quite area ( a corner will work if you are in public) and wait. Allow your child to finish their tantrum before continuing activities.

Be Snub: Ignore your child's behavior. Do not look at your child as they have their meltdown. Paying attention to this behavior may cause the fit to last longer. Be sure to remain within eyesight.

Be Realistic: Toddlers do not yet have the sentence structure to express their wants and desires. This is one of the main reasons tantrums occur. They also have very short attention spans, making it critical to be conscious of the amount of time spent away from home.

Be Understanding: Talk to your child when he/she is upset. Let them know you understand they're frustration. Normalize their feelings by saying things like " I understand you are upset, when you stop crying, we can go outside." This helps ensure them that it is ok to be upset at times. Try not to make negative remarks when your child is having a tantrum, remember they are a normal part of early childhood.

Be Silly: Making a silly face or small tickle is a great way to redirect a tantrum before it is full blown. Getting a laugh can help your child forget why he was upset. You can also try redirecting your child's behavior by offering something else for them to do.

Be Diverse: Allow your child the freedom of choice. For instance holding out two shirts to choose from instead of just picking one for them to wear. Offering two items is a great start, several choices can be overwhelming to a small child.

Be Encouraging: Reward your child for learning to handle their tantrums. Use a Tantrum chart. Reward your child with stickers if he/she is able to shorten their tantrums or express themselves in a better way.

References
Center of Child & Family Services, Inc.